Anxiety Disorders

Question 1

What is the most common mental illness in the US?

Answer 1

Anxiety Disorders

Question 2

What are the neuroanatomic structures involved in anxiety?

Answer 2

• Locus Ceruleus

- Limbic System (Amygdala/Hippocampus/Hypothalamus)

Question 3

Panic Attack

Answer 3

An abrupt surge of intense fear or discomfort that peaks within 10 minutes

Question 4

What are the features of a panic attack?

Answer 4

Palpitations
Abdominal distress
Nausea
Intense fear of dying
Chest pain

Question 5

Panic Disorder

Answer 5

Recurrent unexpected panic attacks without an identifiable trigger - anticipation and avoidance of what may trigger the attack

Question 6

What is the typical age for panic disorders?

Answer 6

Most are in late teens to early 20s

Question 7

What is the treatment for panic disorders?

Answer 7

SSRIs and SNRIs are the first line drugs - can use benzodiazepine to bridge until the antidepressant effects kick in

Question 8

Agoraphobia

Answer 8

Fear or anxiety of large places that can include the following:

• Public transportation
• Open spaces
• Small spaces
• Outside of home

Question 9

What is the treatment for agoraphobia?

Answer 9

Systematic desensitization

Question 10

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Answer 10

Excessive anxiety/worry about many things

Question 11

What is one of the hallmarks of social anxiety?

Answer 11

Blushing

Question 12

What gender does anxiety disorders tend to affect more?

Answer 12

Females

Question 13

What specific phobia is equal between males and females?

Answer 13

Blood/Injection/Injury

Question 14

What is the treatment that can be used for most anxiety disorders?

Answer 14

• Antidepressants

- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Question 15

Separation Anxiety Disorder

Answer 15

Concerning separation from home or parents with an age greater than expected for developmental level

Question 16

Selective Mutism

Answer 16

Failure to speak in social situations where there is an expectation for speaking

Question 17

What is the rate of selective mutism between males and females?

Answer 17

Equal

Question 18

What are the co-morbidities of anxiety disorders?

Answer 18

• Other anxiety disorders
• Depression
• Substance abuse

Question 19

Acute Stress Disorder

Answer 19

Significant trauma leads to short duration of symptoms of negative mood and avoidance symptoms

Question 20

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Answer 20

Recurrent memories of traumatic event with avoidance symptoms with duration more than 1 month - similar to acute stress disorder but just has longer duration

Question 21

What is the treatment for PTSD?

Answer 21

Antidepressants

Question 22

What should not be used to treat PTSD?

Answer 22

Benzodiazepine

Question 23

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Answer 23

Recurrent and persistent thoughts that lead to compulsive behaviors

Question 24

What gender is OCD more common in?

Answer 24

Females

Question 25

What is the treatment for OCD?

Answer 25

SSRIs at high doses

Question 26

What is a main co-morbidity of OCD?

Answer 26

Tic Disorder

Question 27

What is the most common co-morbidity of anxiety disorders with panic attacks?

Answer 27

Agoraphobia

Question 28

What is the most common non-anxiety disorder with panic attacks?

Answer 28

Major Depression

Question 29

What is the most prevalent anxiety disorder in children under 12?

Answer 29

Separation Anxiety Disorder

Question 30

Intrusion Symptoms

Answer 30

Distressing memories of event, recurrent nightmares, flashbacks, distress triggered by cues of the trauma

Question 31

Dissociative Symptoms

Answer 31

Altered sense of one’s surroundings (derealization) or oneself (depersonalization); inability to remember important aspects of the trauma